Peruvian Way

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

River Trip 1:
The adventure begins, the first 3 weeks in June Albert and I heading out on the river inviting river Pastor’s to our conference that we were having in July.

Our first trip was 8 days, we started with an 1 1/2 taxi ride to a city called Nauta, which just an hour in a boat from this city is were the Amazon river begins. But we headed the opposite direction, on the Maranon river. Not knowing what to expect, or come across or even see, we just walked by faith and waited to see what doors the Lord would open for us. We didn’t have a boat to travel on the river or really didn’t know any of the villages that had churches, so the first night we stayed in town and went inviting Pastor’s and asking them if they knew of anyone that would let us borrow a boat to travel up the river on, and if they knew which villages had churches at.

All by the grace of God and His faithfulness, He provided a boat the next day for us. B/c traveling up river it took all day to get to the point were we wanted to start and then from there go down river inviting the Pastors, village by village. When arriving at our point with it already being dark with the stars so bright and beautiful, we decided to call it a night at a village that looked safe enough for us to stay the night in our boat. With our hammocks and mosquito nets set up we sleep the night away, not the best sleep or most comfortable but it was good.

Then our adventure started as we heading down river and inviting as many pastors as possible, By the end of the trip we had invited about 30 pastors maybe, even had a service at a town that didn’t even have a church but the whole town came out and listened to the word of God and then the following day we had a kids program for them before we headed out. It was such a blessing to see the hunger of the Word of God!!!

The whole time I keep thinking to myself, I can’t believe I am doing this, who would of ever thought I would be doing something like this, but only by God am I able to. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Through rainy cold days (“cold”, Yes, who would of thought in the jungle, COLD, yeah it was pretty cold), mosquitoes eating you alive, right when 6pm came around, sleeping and traveling on a boat all day, missing normal food not like canned tuna every day, sleeping but not great, missing your bed, a nice shower, not speaking of jungle bath in the river that is already dirty. But that compared to what we all experienced was nothing; doing the every thing the Lord has called us to do, watching pastors light up as they see two Americans, well one at least the other American/Peruvian (Albert) but to see the excitement, joy, and the warmth they had in welcoming us as we invited them, and learning not not to walk by faith but drink by faith as well, we were offered drinks at some of the houses as we visited them and we didn’t want to offend them so…..yeah chug, chug. And with the beauty of God’s creation, the landscape, the stars, animals and etc… it was amazing. And to know there were things He did that we don’t even know about or even saw, but He was, is, and is still working!!!

After visiting around 20 villages and 4 different rivers we ended up in a city called Requena off the Ucayali river and stayed a couple of days inviting pastors and waiting for our boat to take us back to Iquitos (Our boat- a big passenger boat that can be up to six floors) Requina-Iquitos 14 hours.

At the end of the trip I felt like I had experienced, and learned so much from the Lord. It’s funny how you think you can be so far away from things and think you can escape the things of the world, trials temptations, worry, and etc… but what I learned is “NOPE”, they will always be there, but what will I do with those things as they come my way? I have got to stand on the Word of God and know that what I go through is all for that of growing closer to the Lord.

“But we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope….”

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Ephesians 3:20

I remember the first time the Lord gave me this verse, it was when I was praying about coming down to Peru and studying at the Bible College. All sounded good but with so many details i was short in; Passport, money, plan ticket, my acceptance letter from the college, and etc… But it was when i was praying for all these things that the Lord gave me this verse Ephesians 3:20, and as i took this verse i stepped out in faith and trusted the Lord that He would fulfill His promise to me and He did.

And now I am reminded of this verse again from the Lord as I continue to see His faithfulness in my life. Just this month the Lord gave me the opportunity to go to Lima and visit friends and to be able to take a short break from the ministry, but my main visit was to pick up my team from my home church. My pastor and 3 others came down to see the ministry and see all what I have been involved in these past 3 1/2 yrs (Pastor Bill, Scott, Patricia, and Madison).

With so little time we were able to pack in so many things, First day was a visit at the Bible College where I studied when I was a student and did a year internship and a tour around down town Lima.

Then early in the morning the next day we headed for Iquitos with a busy schedule of visiting Belen (floating city, poorest area here), teaching at church Wednesday night, leaving for Panguana the next day and staying the night there, doing a kids program and a night service with the adults. Returning the next day and having youth group/youth party at our house, and then the last day visiting our zoo (Quistachocha), a place to relax and hang out.

For me it has been a blessing to have my church here as they have supported me all these years, with so much through; the prayers, the love, and of that sending me out into the mission field, and with so many others as you yourself. But for them to see the work first hand was awesome and not only a blessing for them but for me to, having them here and being apart of the work that the Lord is doing.

It was cool to see them get a little taste of Jungle life, bugs everywhere, mosquito’s wanting that fresh sweet American blood, bats flying around, swimming in a river which you have no idea whats in it, swimming with a bunch of naked jungle kids having the time of there life as they jump on you and use you as a jungle gym, from eatting weird fruit that looks like boogers, and of course that of getting out of your comfort zone and just having to trust the Lord.

But all to say is this, Ephesians 3:20; as the Lord gave me this verse 3 1/2 yrs ago and again when my team came He reminded me of it again, “I Am still not done blessing you Jeremy.”
To my church coming out here after praying so long for it all to happen, to the fellowship we had, the fellowship they had with some of the street boys, and all the things the LORD put on there hearts to help out in the ministry here. Words can’t describe what a blessing it was, with all to say, “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”   Hebrews 11:6

I have seen these past few months the Lord has definitely been trying my faith… showing me how and who to put my trust in. That no matter what happens, no matter what you go through, no matter how hard things get, no matter how tough the spirirtual warfare is, no matter how impossible it seems; Jeremy, “Trust in ME.”

First off, sorry for not updateing everyone in all the things that have been going on here, which soon I will get those updates out b/c the lord has done great things this summer and so much has happened that I want you all to know about,  but right now I would like to share a little bit of what the Lord has doing in me right now.

This summer has honestly been the toughest but as well some of the greatest times with the Lord personal. I have felt so much spiritual warfare, attacks from the enemy, but all along the Lord has been right by my side, His hand wide open, loving, and gracious through it all, as well with all the prayers that all of you have giving out.

Truly, “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life…” difficult is the way that leads to life; eternally speaking. Something we don’t see but hope for and what we hope for we believe by faith. Before we hitting that end goal; eternal life, we go through things we don’t understand, we hit difficult times we don’t like, whether trials, persecutions, testings and etc… all for the better but at the moment of it all we think for the worse until afterwards we sit and say, “oh now I see why.”

It’s funny how when going through all this, it seems like you are at the end of your life you can’t go on but then right when you are at that point, God comes in and lifts us up, what we thought, He forgot about us, He was truly there but just seeing and desiring for us to put our faith and trust in Him. All God wants is our hearts and for us to believe and trust in Him; to give complete control of our lives to Him. If He is the one that created us then why can’t we trust Him in with our lives?

In these months the lord has really gotten a hold of my heart, truly in a place of brokenessbefore Him. It seems that trial after trial has come my way and as well with the enemy at my foot steps pulling me ever which way, with my thoughts, with my actions, my pride, and so forth… Really it has shown me what an ugly dude I am and how much of a SAVIOR I need and His grace.

So why was the Lord having me go through so much, why do we always go through trials…? “But may the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” I Peter 5:10

For me personally, I felt He wanted to break me (Psalms 34:17-19) and allow me to see how much I need to put all my trust in Him, no matter what, and to grow spiritually in my walk with the Lord and in character.

A short story and prayer request to close with, Albert left for lima Sunday the 3rd for a class, a team of three were coming on the 4th to help out here for a week and one of them was going to help translate for when me when I teach while Albert was gone. Yeah, well that didn’t happen b/c they had missed there flight thinking it was in the afternoon when it was in the morning, and there tickets are non-refundable. 

Then that night after going to bed b/c I had to get up early to leave at six to go to Panguanafor a huge Medical Clinic that we were helping with, 20 doctors, a dentist, nurses, tons and tons of medicine to give out, and evangilism. Well the night before i got a call from Pastor Jose telling me I can’t go, there is no more space. Man was I bummed but I thought to myself, “well the Lord knows why. Maybe I need to stay back and study for Wednesday, since I am going to have to teach in Spanish for the first time, b/c Albert is in Lima and that team didn’t make it.” So I said, “Ok,” but really in my heart wanting to go. After that I went back up stairs and said to the Lord, “Why Lord, what next are you going to bring my way now, I’m waiting.”

Through the summer of getting hit hard spiritual, to now the team not coming (which it was a missionary from Lima and two others), not having someone to translate for me on Wednesday night, Saturday night and the following Wednesday night, to not going to Panguana for this huge event, and…. well so I went to bed after that and woke up to what I thought was my alarm going off at 5:30am, but was the door bell ringing, and ringing, and ringing. To find out it was Pastor Jose saying, “Jeremy you got to go with me, I need you there with me, no matter if there is space or not, we will work it out.” So told him, ”I have not idea what to do, with all that has happen lately, so you tell me what is best, should I stay back and study for church or do I need to go.” And of course his answer was, “go.”  So I went and had an awesome time, (another update on that.)

Then to my surprize when coming back that night I got a huge headache so went to bed shortly after eating dinner. But the next morning I woke up to major stomach problems, yeah the joys of being a missionary. So I toughed it out that day b/c we had another Medical Clinic but was in Iquitos and I was helping them with it, but thank the Lord I was surrounded by doctors and medicine was able to take some. I was good the whole day but still in pain at times but took it like a man, hahaha, until I got home.

Didn’t got to church which I was supose to b/c I was  teaching but Jose told me that I could stay home and rest which I really needed it b/c of my stomach and he was going to just have a time of prayer with the church which went good, but for me on my part, yeah another story. Up till 1:30am, pretty much living in the bathroom until the pain was so bad that I thought I should go to the hospital, don’t forget I am home alone. Praying, asking the Lord what to do, really couldn’t think much or even the thought of trying to get to the hospital b/c of the pain. But then all the sudden everything that I had in my stomach and what felft like my brains coming up… and out…., if you know what I mean without getting into details. And with relief I praise the Lord with only a little pain but not to much to where I couldn’t sleep, I was able to sleep till the morning.  So as I said before, ”What next Lord…” (Side not, who wants to be a missionary? hahahaha)

So as of this Saturday through all those crazy events, I am left here with one thing, that is of trusting the Lord. Why? B/c the Lord has left me with no translator but only HIM and for the first time I am having to teach in spanish by myself, of course I have shared the gospel and lived everyday living in spanish here but when coming to teaching that I haven’t done yet. Thinking to myself, “there is no way I can do this,” and that’s right I can’t but God can. So with excitement and nervousness the Lord has put me in a place to where I have to Trust in Him, my faith needs to be in Him. 

So if you could pray for me Saturday night with the youth, and as well Wednesday night with the church as I teach. With the word’s of Paul I cling to,“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”   I Corinthtians 2:4-5

As crazy as this email might sound and everything in it, just to say that God is at work and continue’s to work no matter what. May we all allow the Lord to work in us and have His way in us, all for the glory of our KING!!!

Thanks truly for everything!!!

“It is when we are at the end of our own, that we can enter into the riches of God’s resources. It is when we possess nothing, that we can possess all things.” -Smith Wigglesworth-

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

In knowing that I am crucified w/ Christ and knowing what Christ has done for me/us why is it that we seem to always let the flesh get the best of us at times. More and more the LORD is teaching me to let go of my PRIDE, to let go of MY LIFE and to let God be God in my life.

Why is it that we struggle so much with that and not just let God do His thing?

We know that the bible says in Galatians 5:17a that, “the flesh lust against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.”

So as we see, there is a constant battle going on even though we might not see it, it is happening. Christ has conquered sin, He paid the price that no one could do, and now as His children we need to do are part, fulfill the our role, to have the mindset that Jesus had when He was a boy, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business.”

Just this past week one of the street boys here passed away from having pneumonia, he was only 13 years old and as we went to the viewing some of the other boys that I know had asked me, “where do you think he is at now?” My one response was that, “only God knows.” But as thoughts went on in my head of what lifestyle he was in, “a 13 yrs old boy whose parents are alcoholic’s, one who lived on the streets with one of his younger brothers, one who learned and was raised how to survive living on the streets, whether stealing, lying, fighting or whatever it might take to survive and I am sure the list goes on…

All to say are we going to let life pass by w/o giving the LIFE that was giving to us. Christ has given us all something, what are we going to do with it? Are we going to let the life (busyness of this world), sin, pride or whatever it might be reign in us or stop us or are we going to do something about it? Or better put allow the Lord through us make that difference. Physically and spiritually souls are dying. Christians or non-Christians there are ones struggling, backsliding, hurting, wanting answers, and etc…

I pray that we would all, “let go and let God,” and when the world (the flesh) pulls may we (the power of the Spirit given to us) pull back. May we stand in what Christ has done for us, take what Christ has given to us, and live as what Christ has shown us.

Not trying to pound the finger on anyone but speaking from the heart and what the Lord is showing me, and what I myself need to do. And it is only by JESUS I can do this!!!!

On another note, I have been learning and mediating on I Peter 1:2 on the word sanctification and our role in it. A favorite Pastor of mine Britt Merrick that I like to listen to on the Internet said this about sanctification; there are 2 parts in our role of Sanctification.

1. Is Passive- Allowing God to do the work He wants to do!!! Romans 6:19c “Now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”
2. Is Active- Flee from sin, our role is to cleanse our self, God is doing it in us but we got to engage in it.

Our position is in Christ, and God’s see’s us in Christ and He only see’s us through Christ, and who is Christ; spotless Lamb, blameless, etc… God see’s it that way and we need to see it that way too.

I like this quote from Britt Merrick, “We don’t feel holy but God made us holy!”

Not saying we are perfect but God has called us to be holy, so as it says in I Peter 1:15-16 “But as He who called you is Holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, b/c it is written, ‘Be holy for I am holy.”

PURSUE SANCTIFICATION!!!!!!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

As of March 31th, through much prayer and waiting on the Lord, Albert and I have finally found a house. “Praise the LORD“, for almost a year now we have been looking and waiting patiently on the Lord to guide us and direct us in where to go, waiting for that perfect house you could say. And when the first time I saw it I knew in my heart that is the one the Lord has for us.

We have been in there now for little over a month and have been so blessed, just this past month we were able to have the students come for there mission trip and stay with us and break in the new house you could say. It was such a blessing to be able to bless them with what the LORD has given us. Our heart is that as the Lord has blesses us we want to return the favor to others and bless them.

It is 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, an office, Kitchen, living room, dinner room, it has two little gardens, and on the 3rd floor we have a patio to where we can see all over Iquitos.

CCBC Lima, Peru Mission Trip to Iquitos!!!

On April 18-26 the Students from the Bible College came down for a week to help us with the ministry here. It was such a blessing for them to be here and encourage us and help us with what the LORD is doing here in Iquitos.

We were busy with dramas on the boulevard, kids programs, street evangelism, work on the new house, Panguana river trip, playing and loving on the street kids, visiting Belen (floating City), youth group, womans ministry, church and as well we had our 2nd year anniversary for the church.

It was so awesome to see the students and there willing hearts to get out of there comfort zone and serve the Lord. At times reallying stepping out in faith and trusting the Lord that He would equip them for what they had to do, even in moments that were all the sudden. As well the enemy was at work and we could see that he wanted to divide us but as the LORD was and is faithful He didn’t allow him to do that. The Lord had greater plans then what we thought or had.

We Had great times of worship, fellowship, sharing our hearts and what the Lord was speaking to us in, seeing people receive the Lord, streets kids being able to play and have fun and just being kids, and not having that burden of, “I have to work.” Just a little culture info with most of the kids here they have jobs which are on the streets whether that is to help make money for there parents or for themselves, and its sad to see that them working at times b/c in a way they are missing out on what it feels like to be a kid b/c they are working. So its always great to be able to play with them and make them laugh and have a great time, always letting them know that it’s ok to be a kid.

Over all just to say that the Lord was faithful!!! It wasn’t anything that we or the Students did but it was what He did through us. As long as we were willing to be used, He used us and it was cool to see the Lord do that.

“But w/o faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

As for me personally just in these past few months the Lord has been bring me back to the importance of intimacy with Him. A great teacher I love to listen to a lot once said that, “True ministry flows from intimacy.” I see that so much in my life as the Lord has placed me here, that if I am not in true intimate fellowship w/ Him then my ministry that He has given me is effected. I pray that I am faithful to what he has called me to do and that w/ all my heart that I might do it (I Timothy 4:5,7). Not for the glory of Jeremy but for the GLORY of our KING!!!

Praise Reports:
1. We found a house
2. Student mission trip and the fruit that was planted

Prayer Request:
1. Continually purity in the Youth group and how to lead them; teaching through Proverbs w/ them.
2. Started teaching Wednesday night services at the church, going through the book of John.
3. Ministry house
4. Furniture/etc… for our house
5. The team from my church coming this week (May 13-18) to see and help out with the ministry here!!! Safe trip and a blessed time.

Well praise the Lord I am safely home and didn’t get eatin by all the mosquito’s. My time to Panguana and my time there in Panguana was a time of adventure, fun, excitement, joy, hard work, and even life threatening. I bet i got you on your toes now, uh! Well let me explain, and just to warn you it might be long.

To start out with as I said I praise the Lord that I am safely home, all to say that after we loaded all the things on the boat to head out Thursday morning, just 10-15 minutes into our trip the motor caught on fire from a cable that broke and started to spark and caused the flame’s. At first i didn’t know what was going on, “We didn’t hit anything, the boat isn’t sinking…… OH MY! The motor is on fire.” All in the few minutes that this was going on, people screaming, kids and babies crying, people running to the front away from the motor (also keep in mind the more people up front the easier the boat will tip), I thought to myself, “Wow is this the way I am going to die, if this boat explodes, which any moment I was waiting for it to and just before it did I was going to jump out the window in the water that you would not want to jump into, or right when the flame was to big to control I was going to, but then I thought to myself, “what if i am to late, how will I know when to jump.” And then would I be able to help those who needed help, what about my family and friends, I don’t want them to deal with all this.” All these things were going through my head and more as the flame got bigger and waiting. And even at one point I asked my friend who was with me are you ready to go to heaven. Then shortly after that the flame was put out and a few boat’s were near by to help and see what was going on, which one was the Marines (which we were right in front of one of there stations).

After 30 minutes or so they checked the motor and yea sure enough it was toast, but we had another one on the boat so they said we could use that. Which some people just wanted to get off and go home for the day or get another boat, but we decided to go on. So we prayed and even the lady that was sitting next to me joined us in prayer for a safe trip.

I didn’t want to tell this story to scare anyone or for you to worry about me but to tell you and ask you are you TRULY READY? At any moment something could happen, whether on the mission field or at home, or wherever. Life is short and it could end at any moment. What is it that we are going to do? Are we going to fulfill what we are called to do, “GLORIFY our Father!” Making Him known wherever we are, or just go about our regular day that we always have?

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” -I Corinthians 6:20-

So Panguana, the trip was great we got there all in one piece, (hahahaha). There were about 8 men to help us carry the 25 bags of cement (42 kilos a piece), the wood, water, and supply’s. While we carried our bags, food, and etc… It was cool b/c we were able to bless them and pay them the work they did, which they are always looking for that and willing to work. And even through out the week we had others help and carry sand (about 150 or so lbs. w/ 30 minute walk) b/c we were short.

The work for us was fun and hard, working from sunrise to sunset. Mixing the cement by hand (no machines), laying the concrete, getting water which our supply was about 300 yards away (small river) using 5 gallon buckets to carry the water, digging a trench around the church for when it rains, digging a big 5’5″ whole for our trash and to add dirt for where we were short for leveling the ground, and probably now that whole will turn into our bathroom. But even while working we were playing around, making jokes, and taking a swim in the river with the kids as we filled the buckets, searched for fruit to eat, and just enjoying the time.

As well it was fun playing with the kids and seeing them help us, carrying dirt, washing our dishes, getting some fruit for use to eat (since they knew all the good spots), swimming in the river with us, or just entertaining us.

The FOOD! I did survive and didn’t even have to eat fish, well when they eat it I just made something else. But it was pretty good cooking overall, mostly chicken, lots of rice, chicken soup, yuca, fruit, and good ole peanut butter jelly and some other snacks that I brought. But when in need of food, you can always count on PJ sandwiches.

So the night time, it was great got cleaned up about 6 or so, set up or mosquito nets, talked for a bit and then went to bed about 7:30-8:00, not much else you can do in the dark. Then about 5 or 6 the next morning we got ready put our bed mats and mosquito nets up and headed back to work again.

And finally on Thursday night right before the Adult service started we finished the floor of the church.

Over all was a fun trip, full of memory’s I will never forget and am glad that I was apart of.

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ”
-I Corinthians 3:11-

Jeremy

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“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
-I Corinthians 3:11-

As of this Monday me and three other guys from our Church will be heading to Panguana (river ministry) to lay the foundation of our new church that we are building there. Praise the Lord that He has provided for us to build the Church and the ministry house.

If you could pray that the rain doesn’t hold us up, b/c right now is the rainy season and it has been raining a lot. As well we will be carrying 20 bags of concrete, concrete tools, wood for the frame, food, clothes, sleeping stuff, water, etc, etc. And for some of you who know or have been to Pangauna know that it is a 30 minute walk  from the river. As well there will be about 5 or more guys, plus us to help carry the things to the church where we will be working, and what a blessing that will be for them to help.

Are time there will be 4 days and as always we will stay and help out for the Thursday ministry that we have there every week with the kids and the adult service. We will return to Iquitos Thursday night and arrive Friday morning at about 3am.

If you could please pray for us and all the little details that the Lord might put on your heart to pray for while we are gone. As well for Albert and Pastor Jose b/c they will be staying back here in Iquitos, yea i know, “What Wimps”, “The older you get the more fragile you are”, no just joking. But yea they will be staying back and continuing the ministry here in Iquitos.

Thank you all so much for your prayers, I will update you on how things went when I get back.

Much love and blessings,
Jeremy

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My welcome home presents, but first I need to start out with how I got these wonderful presents. So on December 17, 2007 I had the opportunity to go and visit my family for the holiday’s after being in Peru for a year and a half, with excitement and nervousness I finally arrived to the US. My first stop was to Austin, Texas where some of my family and friends live. It was a great visit seeing all of them and the work that the Lord is doing there. As well seeing how much my niece and nephews have grown up and having a fun time playing with them. Also I was able to cook a Peruvian meal for them with the help of my oldest sister, which it turned out great, praise the Lord! Then

On Friday the 21st me and my brother made a road trip to Amarillo, Texas to visit the rest of my family. After an 8 hour ride we finally arrived home 2:30am. And with my first welcome home present well of course seeing my parents, and then wokiong up to snow as you can see in the picture above; I was so happy I jumped on my brother. Then another welcome home present came, my parents just moved into a new house not to long ago this year so me and my brother helped my mom move some furniture into the house, how nice of us uh, what are kids for!

Then Sunday came, the day where the Big present came. As I woke up with excitement ready to go to church and see everyone, I came across this pain in my stomach which living in Peru I am so used to so I didn’t think of anything about it. But then during the whole time while at church not being able to consentrate I was still in pain, thinking to myself, “OK this is not normal.” After talking to one of the doctors that attends our church he recommended taking medicine for parasite’s. But when getting home the pain was different from this morning and telling my mom that this is usually not how I feel when I have stomach problems. So as my parents went into doctor mode (both are nurses) they did some tests to see maybe if it was my appendix. And sure enough after waiting 7 hours or less in the hospital waiting for results to come back I found out I had appendicitis. Which just last year during this time too my brother had his taken out as well. And so at 9:00pm I had an open appendectomy (surgery). At 10pm I was in my room all drugged up and feeling like I got bet up. As the the next day came which was my Birthday, what a present uh, a day in the hospital. Anyways after waiting for the Doctor visited me to see if I was ready to go home I developed a large Hematoma (bleeding from on the inside where they did surgery) almost the size of a baseball, and yea it hurt. So waiting longer for the Doctor to come back in and reopen the incision, but this time I was await and watching him. (Might get a little detailed here) Getting stabbed several times with two different needles, getting blood sucked out of me where the bleeding was on the inside causing the hematoma, having a BBQ with my flesh, as the Doctor said (used some kind of burner to close the whole where I was bleeding from), and getting stitched up again. Yea, hello pain all over again. But praise the Lord everything went good and I finally got to go home Monday night at 8:30pm.

So all to say thanks for your prayers and all your emails I have gotten since in the hospital. As soon as get around to it I would love to email all of you back from the emails I have received. But first I just wanted to let you all know I am doing good. I did have a good Christmas, went over to my sister’s and watched some of my niece’s open there presents from Santa Claus and then had a Christmas dinner at our house and opened presents from my parents.

I am very grateful that I was able to be here for all this and not in Peru far from my family, but being able to be close to my family and to see the love they have given me through all this, and for all of you as well, Thanks.

Prayer Request:
1. My recovery
2. My time in the states
3. For the ministry in Iquitos, while Albert & I are gone

Much love to all, & hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Jeremy

II Thessalonians 3:13“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.” It has now been 6 months being in Iquitos and I have seen the Lord do amazing things in ministry here. I remember from the first day I got here, not really knowing anyone, walking around with Albert on the streets, at the plaza, the boulevard, and the church and him introducing people to me and all that time wondering to myself, “What I am doing here, am I really suppose to be here.” And to now look back and see from then till now at all the friends I have made and the great times we have had. But the coolest thing is seeing the Lord work in there lives, to watch them mature in the Lord, and know Him more. Not to say that Albert and I are something but it’s neat to see the Lord work through us, and that is only by the Lord because I know the Lord loves to us the nobody’s of the world.Well all this to say I am finally going home for Christmas and to visit family. “Praise the Lord!” It has been 1½ year now since I have been home, during my time there I will be visiting family, friends, and Lord willing going to the mission’s conference in January at the Bible College in California. I will be home for about a month and a half and back in Peru February 6. And this is my prayer for this last month here, II Thessalonians 3:13.

A couple of highlights these past few months:1. Had a great time visiting in Lima back in September. Great fellowship and of course great food from Juanita at the Bible College and all the home cooked dinners I had. During my time there I got to share with the men on campus during there men’s meeting, I had the opportunity to teach the youth group at the church, and missions class at the Bible College, and for believers night (Sunday night service) I learned and performed a drama. Even though I was busy studying, learning a drama, and visiting friends I had a great time.

2. After coming back from the College in September we had Brian and Beth (interns at the College), and Ben and Tess (Living Hope Church) visit us for a few days. They had a great time of playing with the kids, going to Panguana, Brian teaching the youth, and Ben teaching Wednesday night service; as well they were able to be here for when we had our second Viligia (all night prayer and worship).

3. Every semester the students take a week off of school and go on a mission trip. We had a team of 16 from the Bible college come and be apart of the ministry here, and my good friend Matt who is a teacher at the Bible College lead the team. “Matt you did a good job!”We did street evangelism, dramas, youth group, women’s ministry, kid’s ministry, a little concert for the youth with the kids on the streets, Panguana (river trip), and ministry w/ the kids in Belen (floating city, poorest city in Iquitos). For me it was a blessing to see all my friends and for them to come and see the ministry here and be apart of it for a week, and to see the Lord us them with all the different gifts that the Lord has gifted them with.

4. Charles from Tallahassee, Florida was here for a month helping in a big way with the kids. He has learned some dentistry work back in the states and for several years has been doing dentist ministry in different parts of the world. And it was blessing for him to come and work on the teeth’s of the kids at the church, Panguana, Belen, and at Pastor Javier’s church (Baptist pastor here, one of Albert’s real good friends). The one prayer of Charles with his ministry is that that love of God would be shown, and that is what we pray.Sorry for being so long and late in updating, I pray that this finds you well and that the Lord blesses each and every one of you. Thank you so much for your prayers and support.

Praise report:

1. The Lord provided for a plane ticket home
2. For all the teams that have came these past few months and the help they have given and the seeds that they have planted.

Prayer Request:

1. To finish strong last month here
2. Youth Group-Purity and a true desire to follow the Lord
3. For the entire ministry; when Albert and I leave for the states that the work would continue.
4. My time in the states to be fruitful

P.S. Check out recent pictures as well!

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing i do; Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14. (NIV)

Now as of last Saturday I finished the book of Philippians with the Youth Group. Which going through the book has been a great blessing and a growing experience. The exact thing I taught on it seemed like I went through that same week. It was like the Lord was testing me to see if I was truly living what I preached. In the context of each teaching I saw that I was going through a similar thing like Paul was going through. Even though I know it wasn’t as intense as what he went through but; the Lord was showing me how to apply it to my life personally and see Him do it through me. I have learned that no matter what, that I need to continue to run the race that is set before me. Always looking to Jesus!

Now the cool thing about this is for the past 2 1/2 weeks I have been training for a short 8k run in lima. Which I just ran on Sunday, no I didn’t win 1st place but I had a great time. It’s cool because in training and even running a race you can so easily apply it to our Christian walks. Even though it is hard and so many times you want to give up, even when you are so close to the finish line you feel you just want to stop. They say and even from experience the last mile of a marathon (Full marathon 26.2 miles) can be the hardest but when running it you always look to the finish line; the goal! And even not placing doesn’t matter to you all that matters is finishing, and what great joy there is when doing that, to say I finished, I did it, I did the best I could. And in a marathon no matter what place you get you get a medal. So enough on that what I was going to say is…….

You are probably wondering, “what are you doing in Lima, I thought you were in Iquitos.” Well Albert and I have decided to take a short break, well sort of. Albert is taking a class at the Bible College and I am just visiting friends, helping out with various things at the College and going to different ministry’s. And so far it has been a blessing being here seeing old and new faces and being apart of what is going on here. We will be here in Lima will almost 3 weeks and head back to Iquitos on the 8th of Oct. just in time to get in the routine of things again and get ready for the students to come for there mission trip.

Also one of the cool things about me leaving was that I asked two of the youthes to help take over while I was. Jesus will be teaching this Saturday for the first time with the youth, and Julio is taking over all of the Sunday night prayer meetings and leading worship for that and the youth group. As well Pastor Jose will be teaching the other two Saturdays that I will miss. But it is such a blessing to see the Lord work and raise up leaders in the youth. I know it is just a start but the Lord is going to do great things through it and even through them as they put there trust in the Lord.

Prayer Request:

1. Our time in Lima to be
2. The ministry in general in Iquitos (We are not there for 3 weeks)
3. Continual provision for the church in Panguana

Praise Reports:

1. Veronica is out of the hospital and is doing good.
2. Soon I will be an Uncle 10 times (next year) Wow thats a lot!!!!!

PS. Don’t forget to check out my recent pictures I put new ones up.